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When naming your cat:
When role playing on this site, it’s saddening to see some ridiculous warrior names. Ridiculous names aren’t appropriate for this site, since it’s not warriors-realistic.
Remember, warrior names consist of a prefix and a suffix. The prefix is the first half, given when they are kits. The suffix is the last half. Kits, apprentices, and leaders all have same suffixes, so they’re not included in this guide. Warriors have a huge variety of suffixes, ranging from “pelt” to “step”.
Names describe things in a cat’s view of things, and always things that are natural. When naming your cat, use things in nature. Colors, animals, plants, patterns, body parts (no internal organs except for heart), weather, times of day, insects, etc. should be considered to use.
Names aren't negative. Names such as "Deathheart" or "Boneface" are unacceptable in warriors, since you won't find them in the books. They lower the cat’s image, and even the evilest cats usually don’t have such depressing names.
Cat names often describe appearances:
Dustpelt: Dust describes his color, he was a brown kitten, earning him the name Dustkit. Pelt only adds on to this meaning - his pelt is the color of dust. Both combined has a fairly simple meaning.
Cloudspots: He has white spots that look like clouds.
Whitethroat: He was named White most likely for his white throat. Throat only clarifies this meaning, if he was named “Whitepelt” or something along those lines, it wouldn’t make any sense since he’s a black cat. Throat is a good option; it’s his most obvious feature that pairs well with the prefix.
Cat names often describe their personalities:
Fireheart: Fire came obviously came from his blazing orange coat. Heart came from the fact that he’s so passionate and caring, he has a big heart.
Brightheart: Erin said that this was one of her favorite names, since it’s so good at describing the cat herself. She was named Brightkit because it sounded nice, I don’t think that there were any features on her that could be described as “bright”. The heart came from the fact that even though she’s so injured and scarred, her heart is bright and positive.
Sandstorm: Sandstorm’s grumpy, and her personality is sharp, tart, irritated, and hurricane-like, earning her the suffix “storm”. Also, sand is rough and coarse, like her personality. “Sandstorm” just seems to fit her really well.
Cat names often describe things in nature:
Spiderleg: He was named Spiderkit since he was a black kitten with a lanky frame. Leg completed it; spiders have long, distinct legs.
Nightcloud: The prefix came from her color, she was a black kitten. Cloud completed it; a cloud at night Crowfeather: Actually, this name has double meaning, and can also be classified as a “special meaning” name. First, is that crow feather obviously means the feather of a crow, classifying it as a nature name. He was named Crowkit since he’s a black cat, and “feather” came from the fact that crow’s have feathers. The two sound really nice together. The second significance of this name is that he named himself “feather” in memory of the cat he loved, Feathertail.
Cat names sometimes have special meanings:
Leafpool: Leaf came from Spottedleaf and Leafdapple, as it states at the end of Firestar’s Quest. Pool comes from the fact that she discovered the Moonpool, but otherwise Leafpool doesn’t make any sense.
Brambleclaw: Brambleclaw doesn’t really make sense either, but he was named in honor of his father, Tigerclaw. Tigerclaw’s name is so since he has unusually long claws.
Prefix:
Cats are given the prefix to their name at birth. Though they’re based primarily on appearances, kits can have names such as “Bouncekit” or “Runningkit” since it sounds nice.
Prefixes should not be based on ideas or personalities. Names like “Dreamkit”, “Fatekit” , or “Evilkit” are unacceptable, since they may contradict the cat’s personality.
Keep in mind that the prefix should pair well with a suffix. The prefix should create a basic picture of your cat, and the suffix should enhance that picture. Also, prefixes should not be too fancy, since remember, they are cats.
Usually, kit names are no more than two syllables long, but exceptions can be made.
Let’s say that I was naming a gray kit with green eyes. Here are a few possible prefixes:
Gray Smoke Stone Mist/y Shade Silver Pebble Grass Green Leaf
This list can also include prefixes that are not related to appearances, but I will not list them since they can apply to any cat. (Example: Bright, Pounce, Petal, etc.)
Suffix:
Suffixes should enhance your cat’s picture, giving their name better meaning. Again, the suffix categorizes the name into topics (see introduction for more details): Appearance, personality, nature, or special.
If your cat’s prefix is a noun, it’s usually more convenient to give them a suffix that’s not (noun/noun names).For example, names like Foxwing and Grasswind do not work. The wing of a fox, grass wind? Though they are nice names, they don’t make sense. However, there are exceptions. Snowbird, Ferncloud, Leafpool, and Hawkfrost are all noun/noun names, and they are all used.
For this example, I will use the prefix White. Here are a few possible suffixes:
pelt flower cloud fur tail foot
Any one of these could work. Remember, no names are random. The suffix should always complete the prefix. What not to do when naming your cat:
1) Keep in mind that these books are set in a temperate/boreal climate. Unless the role play is set in a different zone, traditionally, your cat may not have an exotic name! Exotic flora or fauna is not tolerated! Note: The great Clans (LeopardClan, TigerClan, and LionClan) are an exception to this matter.
Examples of unacceptable names: Rhinostep Monkeyfur Hibiscustail Jasminepelt
2) Spiritual names are unacceptable. Vicky says that “soul” and similar words are not to be used, since they are human religion-related. According to Erin Hunter, Brightspirit is an exception. Also, names that are similar to “dream” are not to be used, along with ideas and personalities.
Examples of unacceptable names: Soulheart Dreamflight Wishfall Happykit Sadpaw Demonclaw
3) Names that denote the cat are unacceptable. “Twisted”, “Broken”, “Shattered”, and “Fallen” are negative, but not if they’re used in a different way. “Brokentail”, “Twistedclaw”, are acceptable, since they describe the cat’s physical appearance. “Brokenheart”, “Twistedface”, etc are not, since they make the cat sound negative.
Examples of unacceptable names: Brokenheart Twistedface Fallensoul
Examples of acceptable names: Brokentail Twistedclaw One-eye Halftail Tornear
Another exception is “fall” as a suffix. The suffix “fall” merely describes an action, and is NOT negative.
4) Specific minerals, rocks, and jewels are not acceptable, since the cats do not know what these are. “Gold” and “Silver” are acceptable, for they do not refer to the mineral, but to the color. “Diamond”, “Ruby”, and “Jade” are minerals, so these names are not acceptable.
“Sand”, “Rock”, etc. are exceptions.
Examples of unacceptable names: Diamondstar Rubypelt Jadeheart Quartzclaw
5) Twoleg seasons are not acceptable names, since the cats have their own names for them. So “Autumn”, “Winter”, “Spring”, and “Summer” do not work as names. Also, the cats are ignorant of the ocean, so variations of that are unacceptable.
Examples of unacceptable names: Winterfoot Springflight Summergaze Autumnpelt Oceanfur Seaeyes
6) Of course, Twoleg objects/man-made things as names are a BIG no!
Examples of unacceptable names: Oreopelt Daggerclaw Housefoot Metalheart iPodstep (haha)
7) Clan name prefixes are not allowed. That means Wind, Shadow, River, Sky and Thunder are not to be used as prefixes.
Examples of unacceptable names: Windflight Shadowfur Riverstream Skyclaw Thunderclash
8) The moon and stars are not allowed either! They’re both related to the cat’s spiritual thinking, so using them as names is not acceptable, unless you’re using “star” as a leader suffix. However, there are a few exceptions. (Moonflower!)
9) Compound words can’t go into compound words. All warrior names are compound words, and if you use a compound word as the prefix, it doesn’t work.
Examples of unacceptable names: Sunsetkit Dragonflyflight Butterflywing Sunrisepelt
Closing up:
Thank you for reading my guide, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it. If I’ve offended anybody in anyway, I’m sorry, and please let me know about it. Remember, constructive criticism only!
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